Special Tutoring

Doses of Awkward

I could pinch myself but I knew that all I'd get would be a bruise. So I stood up and went through the motions of introducing my sister to everyone while praying for divine intervention to erase my sister's and Bastian's memories.

Unfortunately there was no doubt that they recognized each other. Bastian's upper lip curled with derision, and my sister wore her serene and extremely patient facade. You know, the one I used to call her "cow stare" on a bad day? Or the "I'm with stupid" on a more tolerable one?

"Tan Ziqin," muttered Bastian in a tone dripping with disdain as if her name were a curse word, as he grasped my sister's hand with his long elegant fingers in an extremely unelegant manner.

"You may call me Qin, " said my sister, tightening her grip on his hand in equal measure. I saw Bastian's expression crack ever so slightly. He had underestimated my sister's strength. Despite her petite build, Qin has been helping Mother lug massive floral arrangements and hampers every weekend since she entered junior high. Snapping some fingers into digits would be way too easy for her. Alas, she appreciated his musical talent, so she let him go after a while.

"Mai, you never told me that you have such a pretty little sister as Gin," said Tash, thrusting her bosom at my sister. Little sister? What the!!

"Ja, Ethan, you should have introduced us earlier," Tom slapped a heavy hand against Ethan's shoulder, making him wince in pain. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing, " muttered Ethan, as he rubbed his shoulder thoughtfully. "Overexerted myself yesterday."

I paled, worried that Tom was going to follow up with another question. But he seemed satisfied with the answer. Or was he more interested in undressing my older sister with his eyes?

They held a sly glint which I did not appreciate, and he swapped seats with Bastian, who obliged since he had no interest in sitting opposite my sister. Tash was overcome with jealousy for once, and plunked herself down beside her boyfriend. Despite this, she remained charming towards Qin and reserved her passive aggressiveness for me. Nonetheless I chose to sit opposite Tash, because somehow I still felt that she was the lesser of two evils, compared to Bastian.

"So Mai, are you coming back with Ethan this summer?" asked Tash, her gaze following her red talon running down the side of a tall glass. We were bored because the others were busy excluding us from their conversations.

"Nothing is confirmed but I think most likely yes." I lied, crossing my fingers under the table. I had continued working on my parents with Qin's help but so far, the answer was still a resounding no. I tried to see if my sister caught my white lie, but she was engrossed in her conversation with Tom, who I noticed was surreptitiously sliding his hand across the table towards hers.

Tash reached over to caress Tom's wandering hand in hers, while replying me, "That's good. Better be with him and enjoying the summer in Germany than stuck in US wondering if some other woman has sunk her claws into him. Our Ethan is popular everywhere. "

Was she the other woman? Or was she back slapping Qin? I stared into her eyes, trying to read her intentions. But hers remained their usual vapid green.

Qin wasn't bothered by Tash's comments. In fact she seemed grateful for the break in the conversation. Her eyes were arrested by the pile of swag beside Tom. "Is that from the Ecstatic Music festival? "

There was no mistaking the eagerness in her voice. She saw the booty and she wanted it now. Sometimes I can see my mother in my sister and it scares me a little.

Bastian hesitated. It was obvious he didn't want to dole out the goodies while Qin was there.

Ethan murmured, "Bastian, don't be an ass."